Trump 2.0 and Immigration: USCIS Reprioritizes Enforcement and Security in First 100 Days
The first 100 days of the Trump Administration’s second term have brought sweeping changes to U.S. immigration policy. With a clear mandate to prioritize national security and enforce immigration laws more aggressively, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has unveiled a series of new initiatives aimed at deterring unauthorized immigration, increasing public safety, and rolling back policies implemented during the Biden Administration.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of the major changes, how they’re being implemented, and what they mean for foreign nationals, immigration practitioners, and U.S. employers.
1. National Security and Alien Registration Requirement (ARR)
USCIS has implemented the Alien Registration Requirement (ARR), requiring many foreign nationals present in the U.S. to submit Form G-325R. This new mandate revives historical registration protocols and is designed to track the presence, identity, and activities of noncitizens in the U.S. According to USCIS, nearly 47,000 registrations were submitted within the first 100 days.
Key Impacts:
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Foreign nationals must determine whether they are subject to registration.
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Noncompliance carries potential immigration consequences, including denial of benefits.
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Legal practitioners should counsel clients proactively on eligibility and filing requirements.
2. Humanitarian Parole and TPS Rollbacks
The administration has terminated several categorical parole programs, specifically those benefiting Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan nationals. USCIS now requires parole requests to be adjudicated on a case-by-case basis. Additionally, the administration has rescinded Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuela and Haiti, reversing the previous administration’s extensions.
Key Impacts:
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Hundreds of thousands may lose work authorization and be subject to removal.
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Employers with affected employees should prepare for significant workforce disruptions.
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Affected individuals are encouraged to report their departure via the CBP One app or seek legal counsel for alternate options.
3. Aggressive Immigration Fraud Detection and Enforcement Support
USCIS has significantly expanded its fraud detection and enforcement collaboration with ICE and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. In the first 100 days:
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7,120 benefit fraud cases were completed.
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4,664 records were flagged for fraud.
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462 cases were referred for criminal investigation.
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Over 2,200 site visits were conducted.
Officers are also screening social media for anti-American or antisemitic content as part of discretionary adjudication processes.
Key Impacts:
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Expect heightened scrutiny in all benefit applications.
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Social media content may now be used as a discretionary negative factor.
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Practitioners must ensure clients are thoroughly prepared for vetting and site visits.
4. Deeper USCIS Role in Immigration Enforcement
USCIS now directly assists ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations with over 450 officers detailed to support operations nationwide. USCIS field offices have facilitated hundreds of arrests, and the agency is actively involved in high-profile fraud investigations, such as large-scale marriage fraud rings.
Key Impacts:
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USCIS is now a direct partner in enforcement, not just adjudication.
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Benefits interviews may result in referrals to ICE in high-risk or fraudulent cases.
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Legal representation at interviews is more important than ever.
5. SAVE Program Overhaul and Restriction of Public Benefits
USCIS is revamping the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program to streamline verification, eliminate user fees, and integrate more robust data, including immigration timelines and criminal records.
Key Impacts:
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Faster verification may increase the denial of public benefits for undocumented or ineligible applicants.
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Expect stricter monitoring of benefits and increased data sharing with law enforcement.
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States and localities using SAVE can now screen larger populations more efficiently.
6. Rollback of Gender Policy and Naturalization Coordination
USCIS has returned to a binary sex designation policy, recognizing only male and female based on biological sex. Additionally, the agency has ended coordination of naturalization ceremonies in “sanctuary” jurisdictions, signaling a shift in cooperative federalism.
Key Impacts:
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Applicants seeking to update gender markers may face increased barriers.
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Naturalization applicants in sanctuary cities may experience delays or be redirected to other jurisdictions.
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These changes may raise equal protection and discrimination concerns.
7. Covid-19 Vaccination No Longer Required
USCIS has rescinded the requirement for COVID-19 vaccination in green card medical exams.
Key Impacts:
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Green card applicants are no longer required to demonstrate vaccination status.
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Medical exam forms (I-693) will reflect the updated criteria.
What This Means for Immigrants and Practitioners
The Trump Administration’s immigration agenda in 2025 marks a return to strict enforcement, narrow humanitarian relief, and expanded vetting. These changes affect nearly every facet of immigration law:
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Clients must be advised of new obligations like ARR and heightened fraud detection.
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Employers should prepare for changes to work authorization and site inspections.
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Immigration attorneys must stay current on USCIS policy shifts and prepare clients for new risks, particularly regarding parole programs and discretionary decisions.
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Applicants should carefully evaluate their social media history and any past benefit use.
Final Thoughts
The first 100 days of Trump’s second term have seen USCIS evolve from a primarily adjudicative agency into a more enforcement-driven body with expanded policing capabilities. While the administration promotes these efforts as “commonsense reforms,” they present considerable challenges for immigrants navigating the system, and for those advising them.
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